EVALUATING THE VALUE, ACCURACY, AND OPERATIONAL FEASIBILITY OF DUE CRITERIA

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the value, accuracy, and operational feasibility of indicators/criteria in a drug use eval uation (DUE) examining IV histamine(2)-receptor antagonists (H-2-RA). Pharmacists in 40 hospitals collected DUE data concurrent with hospita l stays on a total of 1,200 patients. After completing the DUE, pharma cist data collectors were asked to evaluate each DUE criterion. Most r eported that criteria relating to indications for use, therapeutic dru g monitoring, and adverse drug reactions/drug interactions should be i ncluded in a DUE, but some criteria were not easy to collect or were i naccurate. The data suggest the need to carefully select DUE criteria that can be used for continuous improvements that meet JCAHO accredita tion requirements.